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Sport-specific baselines

Baseline Testing in Adaptive and Paralympic Sports

When standard protocols assume able-bodied norms, adaptive athletes get left out of baseline infrastructure.

3 min read

Standard baseline protocols assume able-bodied norms — standing balance tests, walking gait assessment, and standard computer interfaces. Athletes in wheelchairs, athletes with limb differences, athletes with visual impairment, and athletes with intellectual disabilities all require modified baseline approaches.

Research on concussion in Paralympic sports is minimal but growing, with publications in the British Journal of Sports Medicine beginning to address this gap. Modified protocols might include seated balance assessment, upper-body stability measures, and adapted cognitive testing interfaces. At Headquarters, we work with adaptive athletes to create individualized baseline protocols.

See also concussion testing for athletes with autism for another population where standard norms fail.

When to re-baseline

Plan every year before the first competition for athletes under 18, and annually for adults in adaptive / paralympic sports. Always capture a new baseline after medical clearance from a concussion, after invalid or low-effort test results, when ADHD or other cognition-affecting medications change, or after 12+ months away from the sport.

See the sports baseline & re-baseline directory, baseline by pathway hub, how often to re-baseline, and the complete by-sport guide. Wheelchair rugby: murderball baseline cadence. Paralympic pathway: pathway hub.

FAQ

Why don't standard protocols work for adaptive athletes?
They assume able-bodied norms — standing balance tests, walking gait assessment, and standard computer interfaces. Athletes in wheelchairs, with limb differences, visual impairment, or intellectual disabilities need modified approaches.
What modifications exist?
Seated balance assessment, upper-body stability measures, and adapted cognitive testing interfaces are being developed. Research on concussion in Paralympic sports is minimal but growing.
Where is the research published?
The British Journal of Sports Medicine has begun to address the gap in Paralympic concussion research, but the literature remains limited.
Can Headquarters baseline adaptive athletes?
Yes. We work with adaptive athletes to create individualized baseline protocols that capture their actual functional profile.

Individualized baselines for adaptive athletes.

We build modified protocols that reflect each athlete's actual functional profile — because standard norms were never built for everyone.

Talk to usStart a baseline